REPUBLIC OF NAURU Nauru Bulletin Issue 12-2016/144 7 October 2016 Nauru and Malaysia sign health partnership he Government of Nauru and Dr Khoo said the care of a patient Ta private Malaysian medical goes beyond a single procedure company signed a memorandum of adding that ongoing care, follow ups understanding this week (6 Oct) for and education so the community can the provision of health and medical take care of itself. services notably for heart and lung “I’m hoping that with this agreement patients. that we’ve signed, will be committed The partnership came about to try and help Nauru so we can following a visit to the Malaysian not only just treat the patient but company Iheal Medical Services hopefully give back in the form of by President Baron Waqa and his continuity of care,” Dr Khoo said. delegation. Health and Medical Services The agreement signed this week (6 Adviser Lee Pearce is very excited Oct) between Acting Health Minister about the agreement as she says is Acting Minister for Health Shadlog Bernicke and Dr David going to take Nauru to another level Shadlog Bernicke and Iheal Director Khoo sign MOU for Nauru-Malaysia Health support Dr David Khoo, offers an opportunity regarding services. for Nauru and Iheal Medical will be beneficial to the community as “The benefits to Nauru are huge. Services to work together and address well as enhance the current services It’s going to take Nauru to another level patients with heart and lung conditions available on island. regarding services that we can provide and receive patient referrals. The centre on the island, and the opportunities for Dr Khoo highlighted the importance will also receive laboratory tests taken our young workforce that come back on of patients follow ups after a surgical in Nauru to be analysed, as well as offer island to participate in Malaysia through procedure as being the issue that can be human resources development programs the connections for doctors, the nurses,” improved the most. for health. Ms Lee said. “You [Nauru] have many doctors come Acting President Charmaine Scotty says Ms Lee said the equipment is in the and go and there’s no continuity. As a the partnership comes at an opportune purchasing process and looks forward to result the patient is often left wondering, time following the opening of the new performing surgeries on island• hospital. Mrs Scotty says the agreement what is next,” Dr Khoo said. Pacific LEADS program n information session was conducted at the Chief and answer questions raised at the meeting on the ASecretary’s conference room on 23 September for application and selection process. the introduction of a training program called Pacific Mr Ikeda also informed the group that applications Leaders’ Educational Assistance for Development of have closed for the first batch of applications and no State (Pacific LEADS). applicants applied from Nauru. Mr Ikeda hopes that The session invited public service officers from the with his visit he will be able to raise more awareness and government sector who wish to pursue a master’s encourage more applicants to utilise the opportunity as degree from the program’s selected courses. Topics the selection process restarts for next year. ranged from disaster risk reduction, climate change, The deadline for the applications into the Pacific environment, tourism and economic policy. Shunichiro Akeda presents LEADS program closes on 28 October 2016 and Mr Shunichiro Ikeda who is the assistant resident PacLEADS applicants are encouraged to visit the website (www. representative of Japan International Corporative program jica.go.jp/english/countries/oceania/Pacific-LEADS. Agency (JICA) based in Fiji arrived in Nauru to html) for more information on the selection process• promote awareness about the Pacific LEADS program Produced by the Government Information Office PAGE 2 Education Summit 29-30 September 2016 two day education summit was considerable due mainly to donor aid A held at the Nauru Secondary and government support. School gym in Yaren district “Goals that are lagging behind include consecutively from Thursday 29 achieving targets for university September to Friday 30 September. enrolment and for public health Director of Schools Mrs Fay Itaia courses,” as noted in Mrs Tsiode’s was the MOC for the session “Wõra presentation. Kereri” (Our education) in which she The presentations took a five minute introduced key note speakers for the break as the Fijian choir sang a song summit. followed by a speech by Acting Acting Secretary for Education Mrs Cecilia Giouba The opening prayer was delivered and Special Education Consultant Michael Longhurst Director of RON hospital Dr Josese by Pastor Stan Dabuae followed by prepare for the second day of the summit Vuki highlighting that, “A wealthy opening speech by Chief Secretary state is a healthy state.” Bernard Grundler, who emphasized Special Education Consultant Mr Michael Longhurst delivered the importance of a child’s right to a proper education. his speech titled, “Don’t tell me what’s good for me. I’ll tell Acting Secretary for Education Mrs Cecilia Giouba followed up you,” and asked the question, “so what do Nauruans really think with a power point presentation showing a four part - five year of education?” strategic plan. In a special survey conducted by Mr Longhurst, students were Other key issues pointed out by Mrs Giouba was the apparent asked about schooling. retention rates of students from grade one, the poor percentages The major issues from the survey showed that less than 50 of student attendance despite government funded incentives, the per cent of students are not satisfied with their schooling. The small number of Nauruan teachers available to teach, the small reasons included not having much to do during school and the number of qualified Nauruan teachers and budget issues. mindset that there is no need for education as one can get a job Social planner at the Planning and Aid division within finance anytime in Nauru and so what is the point of education and what Mrs Branessa Tsiode then presented her department’s power will students get out of it. point presentation on Nauru’s Economy. Another issue raised by Mr Longhurst is what education will Mrs Tsiode pointed out the significant difference between look like in five to ten years’ time. Nauru’s economies in 2004 to today’s economy. While his survey responses shows that the economy will The 2004 economy was, “just bread crumbs compared to today’s determine that in the future, 14 said that once the phosphate pie charts,’ stated Mrs Tsiode runs out and the RPC has closed, there will be no money for She also pointed out the Regional Processing Center (RPC) as education. the major contributor to today’s economic pie chart. Participates later formed groups to analyse, present and discuss Currently, the budget allocation to the education sector is the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT) based on the seven strategic plan• Police commemoration day police commemoration serving and protecting their nation A service was held at the Nauru and people,” Mr Adeang said. Congregational church last week The Acting President ended his (29 September) to remember the address reiterating the importance of men and women who have lost their the role of the police and thanking lives in police service. the officers for their service. The service opened with the “Thank you all to the Nauru Police procession of the flags of Nauru and Officers past and present for the Nauru Police Force (NPF) which ensuring our safety, our freedom, followed by the singing of the Nauru our way of life” Acting President national anthem by the combined Adeang said. Nauru Congregational Church choir. The service concluded with a retreat Commissioner of NPF Corey Caleb of the flags procession and light Nauru Police read a bible scripture Flag procession during the Police Commemoration day service refreshments was served at the followed by the police prayer which centennial hall for the presidential was recited by members of the NPF. “It is my great honour to pay tribute to delegation and NPF officers. Delivering an address on behalf of His all police men and women and offer our respect to those serving, to those who Police commemoration day is an annual Excellency Baron Waqa, Acting President event to remember those who have died in David Adeang honoured the men and have sacrificed and of course those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice while police service in Australia, New Zealand women in the police service. and the Pacific region• NAURU BULLETIN PAGE 3 The pacific mourns the loss of Nauru’s CJ Joni Madraiwiwi is Honour the Chief Justice of October) concurrently with the funeral HNauru Joni Madraiwiwi passed service taking place in His Honour’s away in Fiji on Thursday 29 September village of Bau, Fiji Islands, which His following a brief illness. His passing is a Excellency President Baron Waqa is loss to Nauru and the pacific region. attending on behalf of the government His Excellency President Baron Waqa and people of Nauru. and Madam Louisa Waqa are in Fiji The memorial service was held at to attend the funeral, along with the the Menen Church and was open to Director of Public Prosecution David the public. Her Excellency Acting Toganivalu and judicary staff. President Charmaine Scotty was also in The news of his passing has shocked attendance. the judicial fraternity and especially The service was led by Reverend Roger the Nauru Government and its judiciary Mwareow with the opening words where Mr Madraiwiwi had been working delivered by Apisalome Ligadua and as its chief justice for the past two years.